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Joe Royer Returning to Cincinnati For 2025 Season

The record-setting tight end has made his mind up.

Russ Heltman

Cincinnati Bearcats' tight end Joe Royer (11) gets tackle by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44) during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
Cincinnati Bearcats' tight end Joe Royer (11) gets tackle by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44) during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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CINCINNATI — Brendan Sorsby's favorite target is running it back at Cincinnati. Star tight end Joe Royer is returning to UC in 2025, putting his NFL Draft hopes on hold for one more season. The news got announced during Saturday's Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena

Royer set a UC single-season record by a tight end with 50 catches. He turned those into 522 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the 2024 season. It amounted to a 65.4 PFF grade across 657 snaps.

The next step for Royer is rounding out his run blocking, while finding a few more explosive plays to vault him into the NFL after next season.

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Russ Heltman
RUSS HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.

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